Thursday, May 8, 2008

Anifah’s statement manifestation of what needs to be done in Sabah, says Ghani - NST

PUTRAJAYA, Thurs: May 8, 2008

Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman has described the statement by Sabah backbencher, Kimanis Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Anifah Aman as a manifestation of what needs to be done to meet the expectations of Sabahans.

Anifah was quoted as saying in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that there was no harm in Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs in Sabah defecting to the opposition.

He said this during the debate on the royal address after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (BN-Bagan Datoh) asked him if Sabah backbenchers were tempted to cross over to the opposition.

In response to Anifah’s statement, Abdul Ghani who is also Johor Umno chief and Mentri Besar, said: “I think he is speaking on behalf of the people of Sabah on the need to fulfil the expectations of the people of Sabah.

“That is more important to me and I interpret what he said. Of course (for) Sabah, (there is) a lot more that needs to be done in the state.

“I think it (Anifah’s statement) is more of a manifestation of what more needs to be done for the people of Sabah,” he told reporters after a signing ceremony between the Employees Providend Fund (EPF) and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADBC) on the purchase of EPF’s 25 percent stake in RHB Capital, here today